23 | Cruise Planners

T0626CRUISEPLANNERS_C_350 [Credit; 0 [Credit: CruisePlanners]]
2025 sales: $1.36 billion
Previous ranking: 24
Employees: 140 full-time, 3 part-time

3111 N. University Dr., Suite 800
Coral Springs, FL 33065
(954) 344-8060
Website

Executives

CEO: Michelle Fee
COO: Theresa Scalzitti
CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER: Brian Shultz
CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER: Scott Koepf
CFO: Nikki Hetzel
SVP, TECHNOLOGY: Phillip Guerra

COMPANY FACTS

* Subsidiary of Cruise Planners Holdings.

* Franchiser and host.

* Works with 3,124 independent contractors.

* 100% of sales completed by hosted advisors.

* Sales: 100% leisure.

* A member of Signature Travel Network.

DEVELOPMENTS

* Set record for annual sales.

* Ranked No. 1 again in the travel category from Franchise Business Review, receiving a 99% satisfaction rating from its network members; earned other Franchise Business Review honors. 

* Continued to integrate AI tools to empower advisors and create greater efficiencies. The free tools include ChatGPT within the CRM system, a cruise search system that enables advisors to type or dictate a search for any sailing with specific details and a time-saving tool for information about internal programs, policies, suppliers, itineraries and destinations. 

* Introduced an itinerary-builder tool and a mobile app for consumers and for advisors.

* Published two magazines; a river cruise and expedition guide; a romance guide; and a luxury guide.

* Provided a free social media program with access to experts and enhanced tools.

LOOKING AHEAD

* Refreshing its corporate website with enhanced lead-distribution technology and modernizing its free franchisee websites with enhanced customization capabilities.

* Launching additional AI tools for advisors, including a confirmation import to automatically create a reservation in the CRM for suppliers that don't have auto-retrieval capabilities.

* Enhancing mobile technology with additional resources and functionality.

* Introducing other AI-powered agent functionalities for quicker, more efficient customer service responses and new AI functionality in CP Social, a social media program.

* On pace for another record-breaking sales year.

Cruise Planners contacted Travel Weekly after the Power List print deadline to correct its 2025 sales total. The updated number is reflected above.


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